Seraphin, Moerman lead Barcelona in big win

In a big battle between Turkish Airlines EuroLeague giants getting the season started, FC Barcelona downed Panathinaikos Athens 98-71 at Palau Blaugrana on Friday. It was Barcelona's seventh consecutive home win against Panathinaikos and the most points the club has scored in an opening game this century. Kevin Seraphin paced the winners with a EuroLeague career-high of 24 points to go with 9 rebounds and 3 blocks. Adrien Moerman added 16 and 11 rebounds, Pau Ribas had 11 points while Pierre Oriola and Thomas Heurtel each scored 10 for Barcelona. Huertel barely missed a double-double with 9 assists. Nikos Pappas led Panathinaikos with 20 points. Nick Calathes added 14 while K.C. Rivers had 10 for the guests. Barcelona only trailed in the opening minutes, after which Moerman and Seraphin helped Barcelona get a 24-20 lead at the end of the first quarter. Barcelona boosted its margin to 40-35 at halftime and then again to 51-35 late in the third quarter, keeping full control of the game until the final buzzer. Barcelona outrebounded Panathinaikos by 40-27, only allowing its opponents to get 4 offensive boards.

Matt Lojeski and Chris Singleton each hit a jumper in a 0-6 opening run but a layup by Seraphin and a three-pointer by Moerman kept Barcelona within 5-6. Adam Hanga stepped up for the hosts and back-to-back layups by Moerman made Panathinaikos call timeout at 15-12. Singleton stepped up for the guests, but Seraphin followed a dunk with a put-back layup, Phil Pressey added a three-point play and Oriola gave Barcelona a 24-20 lead after 10 minutes. Barcelona held its opponents scoreless for over 3 minutes, while Petteri Koponen and Oriola boosted the hosts' lead to 29-20. Kenny Gabriel and Calathes rescued Panathinaikos and a dunk by Ian Vougioukas made it a three-point game, 32-29. Seraphin and Heurtel stepped up with consecutive layups and Hanga scored in transition to keep Barcelona in charge, 40-35, at halftime.

A layup-plus-free throw by Seraphin ignited an 11-0 run in which Pau Ribas and Moerman each struck from downtown to break the game open, 51-35, soon after the break. Pappas tried to change things with a bomb from downtown and a three-point play, but Ribas and an unstoppable Seraphin kept Barcelona fully in charge, 56-43. Pappas continued pacing the Greens but he didn't find help. Meanwhile, Heurtel and Ante Tomic restored a 60-48 margin for the hosts. Singleton and Rivers brought Panathinaikos a bit closer, 65-54, after 30 minutes. A wild three-point play by Oriola gave the hosts a 16-point lead, 70-54, early in the fourth quarter. A three-pointer by Ribas sealed the outcome, 77-56, as Panathinaikos never recovered, giving all Barcelona fans plenty of time to celebrate a very convincing win.

Head Coaches

ALONSO, SITO

FC Barcelona Lassa

"It was a very good game for us and our fans must be very happy with this win. They understood the things we needed, and I am very happy, especially because of the intensity we put on the court. Phil Pressey raised our intensity level coming out of the locker room. We need this kind of energy. They were our best minutes until now; the first 5 or 6 minutes of the third quarter. Still, we have to improve different, important things. The most important thing is the ambition we have shown to everyone, especially in the final minutes. It is only one win, but we have to improve some important things, especially on defense. For many minutes, the team has done what we are looking for and people are happy. Everyone is happy when you win, but they will be happier if we show intensity and attitude like we did for a lot of minutes. There was a situation in the second quarter, with Ian Vougioukas on the floor, in which we allowed them too many easy situations to score, and that five-point halftime difference could have been dangerous. We showed great defensive energy in the second half and took the game. Panathinaikos lowered its intensity in the final five minutes, which is not the usual thing to see in a team coached by Xavi Pascual. We have to be realistic and I understand we have to be happy because we won and played with high intensity, but there are a lot of things to improve and players who have to join the team. We knew we would offer that intensity and when you do that, things go well. Without that intensity, we will not be able to compete on the road. The key, for me, is to enjoy playing defense. Offense depends on a lot of factors, mainly on your opponent's defense. People must identify with what depends on you, which is defense. Either you play defense or you don't. If the ball is on the floor, you dive or not. Everything that depends on us. We must do it 100% of the time."

PASCUAL, XAVI

Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens

"Congratulations to FC Barcelona. The game had two different stages. We competed in the first half, even when we missed many open shots and free throws, which would have allowed us to have a more balanced game. Still, we were down by five and the game was still open in the third quarter despite our bad start, not playing good defense. We were down by nine at the end of the third quarter, again, missing open shots and free throws. We did not compete in the fourth quarter, giving a bad image. We didn't play well at all even when we more or less kept our concentration and style in the first half, defense and offense. This is why we finished the third quarter losing by nine points, but what happened in the last 10 minutes is unacceptable. We didn't fight, didn't play with the right mentality and in the end, our defense was horrible. We have to understand that this cannot happen again at all. I am sure Barcelona will have a long run. They are playing very well and will keep playing very well. I am worried because we didn't play well in the fourth quarter and have to work to play better. It was a surprise, really. We were playing with a great mentality until now, in the Greek League and also in the Greek Cup against Olympiacos, competing very well. I didn't expect the lack of mentality, honestly."

Players

HANGA, ADAM

FC Barcelona Lassa

"I think we did a hell of a job on defense. We played as a team in a very physical game. It was important to win the first game at home. If we want to be a serious team, we have to win our home games, which is very important in this competition. I am really happy about the win. It was a team win and a valuable effort. I got really tired today and after the three Spanish League games that I played, I didn't get this tired, even though I played more time. It was a very physical game and we have to get used to it. Both competitions are really important us. We have to go step by step, but it was a good start."

MOERMAN, ADRIEN

FC Barcelona Lassa

"It was a great win for us. We played strong for all 40 minutes, did well on defense and offense, sharing the ball to stop Panathinaikos from coming back into the game. I think we need to be focused all game long against a team like this, because every opponent will be tough in the EuroLeague. It is a very good win for us and we have to keep going now."

SERAPHIN, KEVIN

FC Barcelona Lassa

"We know it's important to start the competition strong. We were all motivated, ready to play, even the young guy, Marc, at the end. So we were all ready to play and it was really a great win. I feel pretty good. I'm just trying to stay focused and do my thing. The coach is putting in plays for me, my teammates, the point guards, are searching for me, and it's easier to play that way. We really tried to change the culture, because last year, you know, it was so-so. And this year we are really trying to be something else. So I think we're on a good way."

RIVERS, KC

Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens

"We started the third quarter very slow, very lethargic and they came out with a lot of energy, trying to put us away early. They definitely achieved what they were trying to do. We have another game coming up, in the Greek League. We have to prepare for another game in short-term, travel tomorrow, play Sunday. We have to get back to the winning track before we play against Bamberg."

CALATHES, NICK

Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens

"We did not play defense, as we should. When you get 98 points, you cannot say anything. The picture we showed today was not representative of our team. A lot of this starts from me, from my pressure on the ball. I was not as aggressive as I have to be to give a rhythm to my team. But there were many mistakes in the defense that we should not repeat. It is unacceptable to accept such easy points."